Times Advocate, 1998-06-17, Page 3IN THE NEWS
Times -Advocate, June 17, 1998
Page 3
Bend still pushing for singular government
Amalgamation process is running into several roadblocks
By Katherine Harding
T -A Reporter
GRAND .BEND - In the midst
of the amalgamation mess, the
Grass Roots For a Greater Grand
Bend. Steering Committee are
again pushing for a singular mu-
nicipality to govern Greater
Grand Bend.
Grand Bend sits on the border
of Huron and Lambton county
and is governed by the Municipal-
ities of Stephen' Township, the .
Village of Grand Bend and the
Town of Bosanquet.
For more
than two years,
the committee
has been trying
to unite its
community ser-
vices under one
viable mu-
nicipal govern-
ment instead of
the existing
three.
Last Monday
the Grass
Roots committee sent a detailed
letter to regional politicians re-
stating their argument thai the
Grand Bend community be en-
compassed within one new amal-
gamated county.
"We thought politicians under-
stood where we are coming from
before. However, we have been
concerned lately that they are ig-
noring the Grand -Bend issue,"
said the Grass Roots for a Greater
Grand Bend spokesperson Ron
Merkley. "We sent out a written
ptesentation to catch their atten-
tion."
"Based on.the present provision
of services to our area especially
in health care, .economic ties and
geography, the most logical and
overall cost effective alternative
would be for us (Greater Grand
Bend) to unite with South Hu-
ron," the letter says
Because health care services
from South Huron are important
to its aging population, the Huron
County arrangement . makes the
most sense to the community.
"When you look at health care
services we- rely on South Huron
first...Lambton doesn't even come
into the picture," said Merkley..
"We would like to see ourselves
with the South Huron group be-
cause geographically and econom-
ically we complement each oth-
er...we rely on each other and it
works well," Merkley added.
Merkley is concerned however
that the Exeter-Stephen-Usborne-
Bosanquet
"Our fate is
dictated by two
counties. They
both don't want
to change too
much because it
would mean too
much hassle,"
ann;rlgamation arrange-
ment is falling apart.
"I would hope Exet-
er council would be-
come stronger in pull-
ing us all together,"
said Merkley.
He is troubled by the
slow pace of the pro-
cess. "Our fate is dic-
tated. by two counties.
They both don't want
to change too much
because it would mean
too much hassle," said
Merkley. "Nobody wants to make
waves."
"This is a chance to be credited
with doing the right thing rather
than doing what is politically ex-
pedient," the committee's • letter
concludes.
For. Merkley the answer is.sim-
ple: Greater Grand Bend and its
4,500 residents want to live under
the umbrella of one municipality.
"The way it is organized now we
are penalized severely," he said.
"We have very few services for
our size, very littleclout...tte
whole situation is unfair."
Attached to the letter was a three
page appendix detailing the du-
plication and shortcomings of mu-
nicipal, social and emergency and
medical services in the Greater
Grand Bend Area.
Councillors from Grand Bend
cbuncil are unanimously in sup-
port of the Greater Grand Bend
committee's gbjectives.
"We really believe that it is the
appropriate way to go and we are
in favor of it," said Grand Bend
Mayor Cam Ivey at Monday's
council meeting.
The Exeter, Usborne, Grand
Bend and Stephen restructuring
process
The restructuring committee has
run into impasse at their meeting
last Wednesday.
"The problem is over the eros,
ing county borders and getting the
triple majority," said Exeter Reeve
Roy Triebner.
Bosanquet has indicated they are
not interested in taking land from
Stephen. Lambton county also felt
there should be no movement
without a negotiated.
Triebner feels the whole process
has been placed into a stalemate.
"In terms of amalgamation talks
right now, things are on hold until
that is resolved," said Triebner.
"But we've got to do something
quickly."
The next restructuring com-
mittee meeting is set for June 24.
"At that meeting, we'll make an
assessment of whether it's feasible
to carry on," said Triebner.
Usborne has left the table
After an in -camera session at
their June 2 meeting, Usborne
Township passed a motion to with-
draw from current restructuring
negotiations with Stephen, Exeter
and Grand Bend.
"Until they get their act figured
out we are going to take ourselves
out of the talks...11 is a waste of
our time going to the meetings,"
said Usborne Reeve Robert Mor-
ley. "Bosanquet is causing prob-
lem's and there is more turmoil
back there than'we thought."
Usborne is going to sit back and
see what the county presents as an
option. They are also going to
keep their eye on what direction
the South Huron group takes. '
"We have lots of options," said
Morley. "We are not out to steal
anyone's land. We just want to see
a fair package put together."
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Exeter PS principal retires
The retirement package for teachers with a combined age and years of
experience of 85 has resulted in many more retirements than most years
EXETER - Local schools will be missing some fa-
milial -faces this fall with the retirement .of .several
teachers.
At Exeter Public School, principal John Ross and
teachers Karen -Anne Wallen, Lenore Latulippe and
Sandra Norris will be retiring. Ric Graham, currently
at Clinton Public School. will be the new principal.
Teachers Marilyn Taylor and Eunice Taylor are the
two retiring I Icnsall Public School teachers.
Huron Centennial principal Gary
Je++iii retired earlier this year with
teachers Mary Demers and Norma
Gemmell retiring at the end of the
school. year.
South Huron District High
School staff will also be changing.
Vice principal Keith Allen, teach-
ers Peter Aunger and Cliff Waters
as well as custodian Carl Nickles
will retire. South Huron teacher
Pete Heeney will become the school's vice principal
Precious Blood School in Exeter will not have any
staff retiring.
The Avon -Maitland District School Board's list of
vice-principal and principal appointments shows some
"cross-pollination" across Huron and Perth counties,
said Ray Ford, vice -chairperson.
About three staff members will be transferred from
one county to another.
Last Tuesday night, the board approved 19 vice-
principal and principal appointments in the elementary
schools. Four were vice -principals becoming prin-
cipals; seven were teachers appointed to vice -
"We
vi
exhaust
internal p
candid
principals; and the remainder were principals trans-
ferred as principals to other hoofs.
"We have virtually exhaustinternal pool of
candidates," said Paul Carroll, director of education.
He explained the board has a group of people qual-
ified to move up into the school administrative posi-
tions. However, with the Targe number of retirements,
all qualified staff have been appointed.
The retirement package for teachers with a combined
age and"years of experience of 85 resulted.
in a lot more retirements, and openings in
the school administration positions, than
most years. Jeanne Dionne, human re-
sources director, said teachers who would
have retired over the next two and a half
years are all leaving now.
Carroll said the board must now build up
that pool again and encourage teachers to
get their qualifications for the school ad-
ministration positions. 'e
"We will have to work harder than ever to encourage
young educators to come forward," he said.
Given the uncertainties in education, some may be
reluctant to take on the position which is no longer pro-
tected by the teachers' unions.
Trustee Leslie Wood wondered if school councils
will have a say in who the principal of their school will
be.
John Patterson, associate director of education, said
school councils will be asked what they.would like to
see in their principal. It will be an annual survey which
will be kept on hand and used in the hiring process.
have
rtually
ed our
ool of
ates:"
No mystery surrounding director's retirement
by Michele Greene
CLINTON - There is no big
mystery surrounding the sudden
retirement of the Avon Maitland
District School Board's director of
education.
Paul Carroll announced his
retirement on May 26 and refused
at that time to comment on his
decision which takes effect June
26.
Last Tuesday night in Clinton,
Carroll said he and his wife Mary,
a kindergarten teacher at Seaforth
Public School, are both retiring
because they qualify for the new
retirement package for teachers
with a combined age anis years of
experience of 85. It is offered for
"the first time by the Ministry of
Education and Training and the
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
Board.
"It's time to move on," he said.
But chosing to retire from a pro-
fession in which he worked for 31
years was difficult and emotional,
said Carroll, explaining why tic
refused to comment two weeks
ago.
• He said he won't be following in
the footsteps of Bob Allan, retired
director of education for the former
Huron County Board of Education.
Allan won a seat in the last munci-
pal election as a trustee for the new
Avon Maitland District School
Board.
Carroll said he and his wifc will
enjoy amore private life, focussing
on their interests of gardening and
sailing.
Carroll was the first director for
•the amalgamated Huron -County
Board of Education and the Perth
County Board of Education. The
new board. had a stormy beginning
and Carroll said he expects it won't
get any easier in the future.
"I'm convinced we will have
three more years of spending
reductions," he said.
John Patterson, associate director
of education, will act as the interim
director of education unti: the posi-.
tion is filled, said Chairperson
Abby Armstrong. She said the
board hopes to make a selection by
the end of July and have the new
director in place by September.
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